We present a collection of articles linking Streptococcus bovis to colon cancer.

We also show an article that states that the absolute risk of colorectal cancer 35 years after diagnosis was 30 percent for patients with extensive colitis at diagnosis and 40 percent for those given this diagnosis at less than 15 years of age.

Colon Cancer and Bacteria

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1: Carcinogenesis. 2004 Aug;25(8):1477-84. Epub 2004 Jan 23.

Carcinogenic properties of proteins with pro-inflammatory activity from Streptococcus infantarius (formerly S.bovis).

Biarc J, Nguyen IS, Pini A, Gossé F, Richert S, Thiersé D, Van Dorsselaer A, Leize-Wagner E, Raul F, Klein JP, Schöller-Guinard M.

Inserm UMR-S 392, Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg, F-67400 Illkirch, France.

Several studies reported linkage between bacterial infections and carcinogenesis. Streptococcus bovis was traditionally considered as a lower grade pathogen frequently involved in bacteremia and endocarditis. This bacterium became important in human health as it was shown that 25-80% of patients who presented a S.bovis bacteremia had also a colorectal tumor. Moreover, in previous experiments, we demonstrated that S.bovis or S.bovis wall extracted antigens (WEA) were able to promote carcinogenesis in rats. The aim of the present study was: (i) to identify the S.bovis proteins responsible for in vitro pro-inflammatory properties; (ii) to purify them; (iii) to examine their ability to stimulate in vitro IL-8 and COX-2 expression by human colon cancer cells; and (iv) to assess in vivo their pro-carcinogenic potential in a rat model of colon carcinogenesis. The purified S300 fraction, as determined by proteomic analysis, contained 72 protein spots in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis representing 12 different proteins able to trigger human epithelial colonic Caco-2 cells and rat colonic mucosa to release CXC chemokines (human IL-8 or rat CINC/GRO) and prostaglandins E2, correlated with an in vitro over-expression of COX-2. Moreover, these proteins were highly effective in the promotion of pre-neoplastic lesions in azoxymethane-treated rats. In the presence of these proteins, Caco-2 cells exhibited enhanced phosphorylation of the three classes of MAP kinases. Our results show a relationship between the pro-inflammatory potential of S.bovis proteins and their pro-carcinogenic properties, confirming the linkage between inflammation and colon carcinogenesis. These data support the hypothesis that colonic bacteria can contribute to cancer development particularly in chronic infection/inflammation diseases where bacterial components may interfere with cell function.

PMID: 14742316 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Jason S. Gold, MD; Sancar Bayar, MD; Ronald R. Salem, MD

Arch Surg. 2004;139:760-765.

Background The association between Streptococcus bovis bacteremia and colonic neoplasia is well described; however, the relationship between S bovis and neoplasia outside the colon has not been well evaluated.

Hypothesis S bovis bacteremia may be associated with colonic neoplasia and extracolonic malignancy.

Design Retrospective review of all documented cases of S bovis bacteremia identified by a search of computerized bacteriology records.

Setting One tertiary referral hospital and 1 community hospital located in the same city.

Patients Forty-five patients (41 adults, 4 children) with documented S bovis bacteremia during a 12-year period were identified.

Main Outcome Measures Available patient records were reviewed to identify the presence of colonic neoplasia, the use of gastrointestinal endoscopy, and the presence of gastrointestinal or extraintestinal malignancies.

Results Seventeen patients (41% of adult patients) underwent colonoscopy. Colonic neoplasia was present in 16 patients (39% of adults), with 3 of these patients having invasive colorectal cancer (7% of adults). Invasive cancer was present in 13 patients (32% of adults). Eight patients had malignant lesions arising within the gastrointestinal tract, and 5 patients had extraintestinal malignancies.

Conclusion S bovis bacteremia is associated with both colonic neoplasia and extracolonic malignancy.

Association of Streptococcus bovis with carcinoma of the colon.

Klein RS, Recco RA, Catalano MT, Edberg SC, Casey JI, Steigbigel NH.

Two patients with colonic adenocarcinoma and Streptococcus bovis endocarditis suggested a possible association between the two. Non-enterococcal Group D streptococci were isolated from fecal cultures of 11 of 105 controls, 35 of 63 patients with carcinoma of the colon, seven of 25 with inflammatory bowel disease, four of 21 with non-colonic neoplasms and five of 37 with other gastrointestinal disorders. All such streptococci examined for lactose fermentation were S. bovis. The prevalence of S. bovis in fecal cultures from patients with carcinoma of the colon was significantly increased (P less than 0.001) as compared to that in controls, and also to all other groups (P less than 0.001). No other group had results significantly different from those of controls (P less than 0.05) although patients with inflammatory bowel disease were more frequently carriers. The carrier state was unrelated to age, hospitalization status, colonic stasis, gastrointestinal bleeding or recent barium-enema examination. The implications of this association are unknown.

. PMID: 408687 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: J Anim Sci. 1998 Jan;76(1):299-308.

A review of bloat in feedlot cattle.

Cheng KJ, McAllister TA, Popp JD, Hristov AN, Mir Z, Shin HT.

Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB Canada.

Improvements in feedlot management practices and the use of various feed additives have reduced, but not eliminated, the occurrence of bloat in feedlot cattle. Feedlot bloat reduces the profitability of production by compromising animal performance and more directly by causing fatalities. In feedlots, bloat is associated with the ingestion of large amounts of rapidly fermented cereal grain and destabilization of the microbial populations of the rumen. An abundance of rapidly fermented carbohydrate allows acid-tolerant bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp.) to proliferate and produce excessive quantities of fermentation acids. As a result, ruminal pH becomes exceedingly low, and this impairs rumen motility. Further, the excessive production of mucopolysaccharide or "slime" increases the viscosity of ruminal fluid and stabilizes the foam implicated in frothy feedlot bloat. Although protocols have been developed to treat feedlot bloat, the most profitable approach is to use management strategies to reduce its likelihood. Amount of roughage, grain processing techniques, selection of cereal grain (e.g., corn, barley, and wheat), dietary adaptation periods, and various additives (e.g., ionophores) can influence the occurrence of bloat in feedlot cattle. Successful management of these factors depends on a thorough understanding of the behavioral, dietary, and microbial events that precipitate bloat in feedlot cattle.

PMID: 9464911 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]